House Speaker says state will take over MSCS in radio interview; Democrats respond
by: David Royer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A state leader says plans are being drawn up Monday to take over control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) made the announcement Monday on radio station KWAM 990 AM.
According to the station’s social media, Sexton said the state plans to declare the local school board “null and void” and take control of the school board.
Republicans’ plan for a state intervention drew immediate response from two prominent Memphis Democrats.
“The partisan effort to take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools is an attack on democracy and a step backward for improving education in Tennessee,” Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari. “Instead of punishing local decisions, we should focus on moving forward together.”
Controversy boiled over Jan. 21, when the MSCS board voted to immediately fire superintendent Marie Feagins, and replace her with an interim superintendent, Roderick Richmond.
That decision came amid howls of protest from teachers, parents and community members who packed two board meetings to protest the move.
By the next day, Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis) told WREG he would will file several bills calling for the so-called “nuclear option” for MSCS, meaning a state intervention.
But Democratic Caucus Chairwoman London Lamar said state takeovers have not proven successful in turning around the district.
“The Tennessee Achievement School District (ASD), established to manage underperforming schools, serves as a pertinent example,” Lamar said. “Despite its intentions, the ASD has faced significant challenges, and many of its schools continue to struggle. Reports indicate that most ASD schools remain in the bottom five percent for over a decade and perform worse than the local districts they started in.”
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